What is 'Quality Control'

Introduction
Any product or service defines and speaks for the company or brand that creates it. This is exactly why there is a need for perfection for a product, from the manufacturing phase to the outcome phase. In order to achieve that perfect quality, every organization should adopt a quality control plan and strategy. This is crucial and requires continuous reviewing and efforts. After all, the quality of the product ultimately decides its place in the market, in the long run.

What is Quality Control?
Quality Control is a process or a set of procedures followed by a company, in order to assure that the product meets the set standards and requirements. Every organization has either an internal department of Quality Control or a hired external body to supervise the manufacturing process and resolve defects or inefficiencies. There are set frameworks, models, tests and measures to identify and fix issues related to Quality management.

Examples of Quality Control
The process of quality control varies according to the industry. For example, a Garment industry would emphasize on the quality control of designs, specifications and needs of the consumer. So, the inspections would focus on such criteria ensuring satisfaction from the clients and customers. They will mostly have a Quality Control Department inside the premises to audit the process. A Food factory has concerns in the health and hygiene aspects of the consumer, so they conduct tests in the laboratory within the organization and even send samples to an external laboratory for testing.

Quality Control Methodologies
There are several methods to conduct quality control management such as Process Control, Control Charts and Inspection to name a few. Some of the most effective methods are described here.

Control Charts
These are used to represent and analyze the causes and concern graphically. This is an effective way to detect and locate a deviation and finds ways to minimize or stop them from recurring. The chart can be univariate or multivariate depending on the number of variations the issues possess. An X Bar chart is the most effective type of control charts used to determine the issue, fix it and predict the result. The variations detected in these patterns assist in deriving the relationship between the product manufactured and the required benchmark of the product in the market.

Process Control
Process control allows the personnel to achieve perfection through testing and analyzing the product before it hits the market. Acceptance Sampling is a process where the quality is assessed post production. A sample of the product is tested and results determine whether it can proceed to the next phase. If the sample is rejected, the entire lot gets rejected.

100% Inspection Method
This method is a thorough assessment process where every part of the process and product is monitored and tested in order to rule out imperfections at the initial stage. Product Inspection and Process Inspection are the two aspects of this comprehensive method where a defect is identified, fixed or returned for correction and in an extreme case, rejected.

Taguchi Method
It is a statistical method adopted by huge companies like Toyota and Ford to ensure better quality. It aims to prevent error at the designing stage, rather than having to wait until the manufacturing is done. The model follows three phases namely the System Phase, Parameter Phase and the Designing Phase. The System Phase, promotes the idea of creating a new design or modifying the prevailing design to achieve the required quality. The Parameter Phase identifies the parameters involved in the production to reduce variations. The Tolerance Phase aims to enhance performance by recognizing tolerance limits. When the production deviates from the goal, the quality of the product drops down.

Six Sigma Method

1. It is a quality management strategy which intends to promote the improvement of the product quality. It was first employed by the Motorola in 1986. The core of Six Sigma is to follow the DMAIC rule to ensure perfection.
2. Define the error or concern using reviews or feedback from the peers or customers.
3. Measure the depth of the issue by gathering information regarding the same, from every available resource.
4. Analyze the cause using the data collected and investigate further.
5. Improve the quality using the insights derived through the analysis, by either fixing the errors or creating a new design.
6. Control further defective actions by maintaining the standard.

Importance of Quality Control
Quality control is essential to build a positive reputation for the brand.
The results of evidence-based research and effective strategies create trustworthiness among the customers.
It is necessary to improve the standards of manufacturing and marketing.
It reduces expenses in unprecedented inspection procedures.
Quality Control system ensures high standard products which in turn inspires the employees to strive for excellence.
It makes exporting business easier.

QA Vs QC
The most common confusion associated with Quality Control is being misunderstood for Quality Assurance. Though the two are parts of Quality Management, Quality Assurance is process specific and driven towards actions that ensure quality through checklists, standards and documentations. Whereas, Quality Control is product specific and driven more towards inspections, reviews and remedial actions post production.

What are the types of Quality Control?
There are many types of quality control and the most common are Control Charts, Inspection, Process Control and Six Sigma.

What are the 2 main objectives of Quality Control?
Quality Control aims to outline the standards and requirements of a product in the market and define clear criteria to inspect and resolve errors.

How does quality control work?
Quality control works by collecting data, finding outcomes, recognizing errors, creating an action plan, implementing, checking progress and constantly reviewing and revising.

Why is quality control important?
Quality control is essential to enhance the market value, promote brand recognition and bring about a uniformity among the products.

What is the difference between Quality Assurance and Quality Control?
Quality assurance is ensuring that a product meets its standards by preventing errors whereas Quality Control is identifying issues and concerns of a product post development.

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